Antimicrobial medical gloves

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein relates to elastomeric articles such as medical or industrial gloves coated by antimicrobial compositions and protected by water-resistant packaging. Antimicrobial gloves are useful in methods for reducing nosocomial infection by Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Packaged gloves maintain quick-kill activity against microbes, even after extended storage. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of packaging which protects the antimicrobial activity of a glove during storage and transportation by shielding the glove from warm and / or humid environments. Alternatively, the present invention provides a system comprising an antimicrobial glove and packaging as a means for maintaining a low level of humidity in the vicinity of the glove.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to antimicrobial gloves and a means for packaging them which allows the gloves to maintain antimicrobial activity during storage. The gloves are particularly, but not exclusively, useful for medical applications, for example as both exam and surgical gloves. The medical gloves of the invention exhibit “quick-kill” activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms and maintain their antimicrobial activity after being stored and transported under warm and humid environments. The invention may alternatively have application in other skin protection elements including but not limited to food-contact gloves, dental gloves, industrial gloves, biologically protective gloves, and also elastomeric articles such as medical devices, catheters, protective covers, and tubes. [0002] Gloves have become an everyday part of clinical practice for healthcare workers and function as an element of personal protective equipment. Nosocomia...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] 3. a wetting agent, preferably a polyether-modified dimethylpolysiloxane such as BYK-348 at about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight, which improves coating coverage;

[0016] 4. an anti-foaming agent, preferably a self-emulsifiable acetylenic diol such as Surfynol TG at about 0.01% to about 0.3% by weight, which reduces coating defects due to dynamic surface tension reduction;

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of packaging which protects the antimicrobial activity of a glove during storage and transportation by shielding the glove from warm and / or humid environments, comprising: placing the gloves within a means for reducing the relative humidity in the vicinity of the glove to less than the ambient relative humidity, preferably comprising a moisture-resistant barrier or metal foil pouch containing a desiccant.

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a system comprising an antimicrobial glove and packaging to protect the antimicrobial activity of the glove during storage and transportation. The packaging comprises a means for maintaining a low level of humidity in the vicinity of the glove.

Problems solved by technology

However, investigations have found that for a variety of reasons the use of regular medical gloves alone does not provide sufficient protection against nosocomial transmission of microorganisms.

A staff member's soiled glove can touch other areas such as a different resident, themselves, or an area surface, potentially resulting in patient-to-patient transmission of microorganisms.

Inappropriate management of contaminated gloves can result in cross-infection of hospital staff and patients.

Efforts have been made to improve the quality of medical gloves in order to reduce nosocomial infections, but there has not been a satisfactory solution of the problems associated with such medical gloves.

However, the efficacy of the antimicrobial glove described therein is limited to Staphylococcus aureus.

Unfortunately, the growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus stated in the disclosure is insufficient to quickly kill bacteria on contact.

The antibacterial activity of the glove is limited because the coating composition is applied to the inside surface of the glove rather than the outside surface of the glove.

The disclosure claims that the release of antimicrobial agent is slow, thereby limiting its efficacy.